.png)
Mammogram okay w/ PM?
- by Mojo
- 2013-09-23 10:09:19
- General Posting
- 2319 views
- 10 comments
I had a DC Medtronic Sensia implanted on June 12, 2013. I am wondering if it is okay to have a normal mammogram done or is that not advisable? I'm so afraid it will make one of the leads come loose. But there is so much breast cancer in my family that I want to keep up with the mammograms if possible. I would appreciate any advice.
10 Comments
No problems
by jane32 - 2013-09-24 06:09:15
I had a mammogram earlier in the year and had no problems. The technician showed me the picture on the screen which showed the pm. I was anxious about it as well but was reassured by technician that they screen people with pms all the time.
Are you REALLY afraid...
by donr - 2013-09-24 08:09:37
...that a lead will come loose? I've never had a mammogram & never will, but read my experience extracted below from a comment on skydiving about the security of a newly implanted lead almost the same elapsed time post-op.
Begin paste:
"If you were to be diving headfirst toward Mother earth at 180 mph (near terminal velocity for a human body) when you pull the handle, you just might get jerked pretty hard when the chute opens & it rotates you upright. You have to balance that against the probability of stopping a Jeep Cherokee doing 35 mph w/ your right shoulder (& you had not had a chance to change into your red tights in a phone booth). Now I have done that & it did nothing to my PM.
Darned near ripped my heart from its moorings; broke somewhere between 8 & 12 ribs & a collar bone & caused other significant internal injuries, but did NOTHING to my PM. My newest lead was but 9 weeks old & there was zero effect on that lead - much to the amazement of my Cardio.
Now go forth w/ confidence & pose for pictures!"
End paste.
Don
My Doctor
by Acin - 2013-09-24 08:09:39
told me to wait 6 months just to be sure that I'm totally healed.
wait a little longer
by Tracey_E - 2013-09-24 09:09:10
It's perfectly safe to have mammo's but as the others said, make sure the technician knows. I go to the same place each time so they have my previous scans in front of them. I would wait a bit longer, at least 6 months after implant. It's not dangerous and you won't hurt a lead, but it might leave you sore.
Mammos are fine
by Grateful Heart - 2013-09-24 12:09:47
Like Marie said, just advise the technician you have a PM. They will make sure they don't squeeze so hard at the site. In my case, they also took some film behind the PM to check further.
Sometimes they will also do an ultrasound to be thorough.
Good luck,
Grateful Heart
I would wait 6 months
by Jax - 2013-09-25 01:09:00
That's what my EP advised and I followed his advice.
It was a bit over a year due to the wait time but I was afraid a lead would dislodge. All went well.
not so sure
by LisB - 2013-09-25 12:09:42
I went today to have my PM checked and all was fine, but while I was there I asked the Metronic checker if it was okay to have a mammogram. He said yes. Then I asked if the leads ever come undone and he also said yes, but not usually at all. Because I have Third Degree Heart Block he said the person that is taking my mammogram has to understand that I have no heartbeat on my own and need the pacemaker all of the time. He said they would call my cardiologist and ask if I could have a mammogram on the left side as well as the right. He also said there were other ways to check my breast. So, I am waiting for a call from the cardiologist to make sure I am good to go.
dislodge
by Tracey_E - 2013-09-27 04:09:50
Yes, it's possible to damage a lead but it's very unlikely, esp if the technician is aware where it is.The leads will not dislodge in the heart, the risk is snapping them where they attach to the pm itself. For most of us, there is plenty of slack, the leads are very flexible, and the leads are tucked behind the pm so there is no risk of damage. If yours sticks out and you can feel where the leads connect, then I would be careful.
If the tech is the least bit hesitant or rough, don't be shy about asking for someone else. When I went the first time, they did a very gentle scan to see where the pm/leads are, then while watching that proceeded to do the full scan. We can have ultrasound too.
p.s. my pm is submammary, not under the collarbone in the usual spot, so it gets squeezed. I pace every beat I take, also. I got my first one in 1994 so I've had a few mammo's over the years. No big deal.
You know you're wired when...
Airport security welcomes you.
Member Quotes
My pacemaker has ultimately saved mine and my unborn childs life for which I am thankful.
Mammograms
by Marie12 - 2013-09-23 11:09:17
Mojo - I did a quick search on this site for the subject of mammograms because I had the same questions. My ICD implant was July 2013. It appears everything is good to go but you should make sure they are aware of your pacemaker. Personally, I am waiting another three months before I have one done as I feel by then I will be mmore comfortable with the device. Go to the search on this site, type in mammogram and you will find lots more info.